One of the most amazing
trips I ever did occurred in the summer of 1998. For a full month I hiked around
Ireland and I lived a dream. Ever since I got hooked on Thin Lizzy as a wee
lad, all things Ireland have interested me especially the Celtic mythology, Irish
history, Irish music, both rock and folk, and... of course, as I got older,
Guinness! So when I was able to commence on this journey of a lifetime there
was no stopping me. After a couple of weeks on the road I ended up in the
beautiful city of Galway on the Irish west coast. Brimming with music and arts
I was in heaven and it was here I was first exposed to an amazing instrumental
folk music group called Lúnasa.
I found their self-titled
debut album in a record store but since I had no means to play it until I got
back to Sweden, the cd remained "forgotten" in my backpack for
awhile. But once I actually played it all the memories of the trip came
flooding back with full force and knocked me breathless. All the amazing sights
I saw and all the wonderful people I met were so vivid, it felt like I was back
there. And it still does every time I play Lúnasa's music sixteen years later.
The band took their name
from Lughnasadh, which is an ancient harvest festival and Lúnasa actually means
August. In fact all songs on this album are named after the months in the Irish
calendar but for some reason August was excluded. Utilizing fiddle, whistle,
flute, double bass, uileann pipes and acoustic guitar, the band expertly takes
me on a year-long endeavour through the cold and harsh times of winter, to the
awakening of life in spring and the joyous times of summer before winding down
as autumn comes to prepare me for hibernation.
Despite being an
instrumental group, or actually because being an instrumental group, Lúnasa
tell tales and project images where using words would fail. Instead, closing my
eyes a whole new world opens up for me as the magical tones emanating from the
speakers sweep me away. So it's no wonder Lúnasa is the go-to album for
me when I need to relax, be picked up and invirogated or let the world around
me disappear for a while. It's an escape and wonderful at that.
I can't stress how much
this album, and the band, means to me on
so many levels but I will say this. If you are curious on Irish folk music,
proper Irish folk music, look no further. You couldn't find a better
introduction anywhere.
- Swedebeast
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